Bag frame structure



June 21, 1938. J. F. cox

BAG FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 5, 1936 lIllI lr-llllllilllll Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES:

PATENT orF-ic E Application February 5, 1936, SeriaPNo. 62,449

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in-hing ing devices for the'frames of handbags and the like containers.

In the drawing, which represents a preferred embodiment of my invention:-

Figure 1 is a plan view of a hand bag frame structure including an outer frame having an inner purse frame secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view ofmy improved outer 16 and inner frame hinging members with the frames in assembly with eachother;

Fig. 3 is a section of the installation'shown in Fig. 2, the outer frame hinging member being shown in elevation; 15' Fig. 4' is a side elevation of the outer frame hinging member ready for the flange-forming operation upon the same;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the member shown' in Fig. 4 after the flange-forming operation;

.20 Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the purse frame hinging member ready for the bead-forming operation upon the same;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the member shown in Fig. 6 after the bead-forming operation;

25 Figs. 8 and 9 are sectional views, partly in elevation, showing one method by which the outer frame hinging member is secured with the outer frame members; and

Figs. 10 and 11 are sectional views, partly in 39 elevation, showing one method by which the purse frame hinging member is secured with the purse frame members.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a preferred hand bag structure including an outer 5 frame I and a purse frame 2. The outer frame I comprises a pair of frame members having a set of adjacent leg portions 3 and 4 at opposite ends of the frame. The leg portions of each set are hinged together at their free ends, as

40 best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. The purse frame 2 comprises a pair of frame members having a set of adjacent leg portions 5 and 6 at opposite ends of the frame and hinged together at their free ends (Figs. 2 and 3).

45 Referring in detail to my improved frame hinging construction, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that I have chosen to construct the outer frame in such a way that the free end of the leg portion 3 is provided with 50 an integral hollow bearing I and the free end of the leg portion 4 is provided with an ear-shaped element 8 having an aperture therethrough in line with the opening in the hollow bearing I, as shown in Fig. 3. The elements I and 8 are pivot- 55 ally held together at each end of the frame I by a solidpin member 9. The pin member, before assembly with theelements I and 8, is of a form substantially as shown in Fig. 4 being of onepiececonstruction having a head In at one end and a longitudinal shank II extending from the 5 head and ending in an attaching portion I2 of smaller diameter than the shank II and preferably having a free end I2 of rounded form so that no sharp edge will be presented thereby. A shoulder I3 is formed on the shank I I at the junc- 10 tion of the shank with the attaching portion.

In assembling the pin member with the ends of the leg portions of the outer frame, the pin is first inserted through the hollow bearing I and the element 8 so that the pin head I0 will lie ad- 15 jacent to oneend of the bearing I and the attaching portion I2 and a portion of the shank II'will extendbeyond the ear-shaped element 8; Next, a suitable tool having a sharp cutting edge Illl is brought down upon the shoulder I3 (Figs. 8 and 9) with the result that the material of the shank I I adjacent to the shoulder is swaged or rolled back to form a peripheral flange I4 which extends around the shank I I. In my preferred form, this flange I4 engages the outside surface of the ear-shaped element 8 (Fig. 9). The attaching portion I2 is lengthened by the action of the tool for a relative distance depending upon the amount of material taken from the shank I I to form the flange.

After the tool operation, above described, the pin member, in the form shown in Fig. 5, extends the width of the frame. The hollow bearing I and the ear-shaped element 8 bear upon the entire surface of the shank I I and freely pivot about the same. The elements I and 8 are maintained in compact assembly with the shank of the pin between the head Ill and the flange I I, as shown in Fig. 3. The attaching portion I2 extends inwardly toward the set of legs at the opposite end of the frame for reasons which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The adjacent leg portions 5 and 6, at opposite ends of the purse frame 2, have the ear-shaped elements I5 and I6 formed integral with the free ends thereof. The elements are pivotally held together by a hollow rivet means I! which is of a form, before assembly with the frame, substantially as shown in Fig. 6 having a head I8 and a longitudinal tubular shank I9 which is provided with an opening at the end opposite the head I8.

In assembling the rivet with the purse frame, the rivet is passed through apertures in the earshaped elements I5 and I6 (Fig. 10) so that the head will lie adjacent to the outside surface of the element l6. While the parts rest on a tool, not shown, a tool 2| is brought down upon the shank (Figs. 10 and 11) in a way to collapse the shank between the end of the tool 2| and the ear l thereby to form a peripheral bead 22 at a predetermined position on its length so that the head will lie adjacent to the outside surface of the element l5 (Figs. 3 and 11). It will be noted that the tool (Figs. and 11) which I have used to form the ridge is shaped to provide a circumferential part 23 which is adapted to enclose the outside surface of the rivet shank to prevent outward buckling of the same except where desired. At the same time that the part 23 engages the outside surface, a central tool part 24 engages the inside surface of the hollow shank for the purpose of preventing any inward bending of the shank when downward pressure is exerted by the tool upon the free end l9 After the bead is formed by the operation, as described, the elements I5 and I 6 are compactly assembled with the shank, between the head l8 and the ridge 22, and capable of pivoting freely upon the shank (Fig. 3). The open end of the shank l9 extends outwardly in a direction away from the set of arms located at the other end of the frame.

To assemble the purse frame 2 with the outer frame I, the open end of a rivet shank at one end of the purse frame is slipped over the attaching portion of one of the hinge pin members extending from the outer frame. The purse frame is then pressed toward the attaching portion whereby the natural spring action in the frame will allow the open end of the shank at the other end of the purse frame to be slipped over the corresponding pin extending from the outer frame whereupon the purse frame will spring back to normal position and the parts will be secured together, as shown in Fig. 3. When the frames are assembled with each other, the attaching portion of each pin will extend for a sufiicient distance into the rivet shank to prevent any chance of unintentional separation of the frames.

As a result of my improved hinging members, I am enabled to hinge together adjacent legs at opposite ends of inner and outer frames in a highly efficient and inexpensive way necessitating a minimum of parts as compared with the commercial hinge constructions now in use.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby, because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claim.

I claim:

In a pivoted frame structure for devices of the class described, a one-piece hollow hinge pin having a head at one end thereof, a shank extending from said head, said shank having a substantially uniform diameter throughout its length, said diameter of said shank being less than that of said head, said shank passing through parts of said frame and acting as a pivot bearing, a peripheral bead extending outwardly from said shank and disposed on the length of said shank in spaced relation to said head whereby said bead and said head cooperate to hold the frame parts together, a portion of said shank on the other side of said bead from said head disposed outside of said hinged portions of the frame structure for cooperation with the hinge pin means of a cooperating frame structure.

JOSEPH F. COX. 

